This is a great historical novel. The writing is amazing. The book is atmospheric and emotional. There is excellent character development. A great story

DNF at 33%

As an English history nerd, this book seemed right up my alley. Between the tumultuous setting of the English Restoration and a female protagonist forced to undergo a harrowing journey, I should have loved this.

However, the execution of this book just did not do it for me whatsoever. The pacing at the beginning of this novel was immensely slow and I didn't feel like we got enough time to learn about Alethea as a character before she has to begin her journey. While I tried to soldier on like our protagonist, I ultimately decided that this book was just not going to be for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Duckworth Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found the subject matter really interesting. The book was well written and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

An enjoyable read, if you like historical fiction, I think you’ll love this, definitely gives you things to think about , the fear of the contagion is and being forced to isolate is something we can all associate with sadly

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get to it before it was archived but will review in full when I do.

Unusual book, but I enjoyed the time period and historical elements. There was something that didn’t connect with me but I’m sure other historical fiction lovers might enjoy.

I loved this book so much that I went and bought a 1st edition signed hardcopy , eagerly awaiting more from Anna Abney.

What an intriguing idea for a book: a young, naive woman left alone in Plague-ridden London has to make her way home to what she vainly thought of as comparative safety. Anna Abney's coming-of-age novel does a splendid job of showing the divisions in society caused by religion, class and the recent Civil Wars.

Alethea's journey takes her via Epping Forest, where she is taken in (in both senses) by a group of religious non-conformists led by a charismatic preacher who turns out be be extremely ungodly and she ends up at Measham Hall to find her family about to lose it because of the absence of her brother (in exile overseas). Pregnant and abandoned, what does she do? Impersonate her brother! It's all great fun.

But unfortunately the book sags and lags and I felt the Epping part went on far too long. At the end there are loose ends left flapping in a way that makes it obvious they've been left there so that there can be a sequel. I do find this irritating; a book should stand on its own, even if it's part of a series. Who's going to read book two if book one leaves them unsatisfied?

Still, I probably will read the sequel. I just wish I'd enjoyed this book more.

This book intrigued me when I read the description and it kept me glued when I began it. Set after the second English Civil War, this is the story of a young gently reared girl trying to get back to her home. It is a journey of discovery where she encounters people of different religions and moral values, what she learns about the world and herself. The author carries the reader along this same path, the characters are well drawn especially Alethea the erstwhile heroine. Those she spends time with are so well described that by the end of the book you feel you know each character well. It may not be to everyone's taste but if you have an interest in puritanism, Catholicism and society in the 17th century I think you will be glad to invest the time. My grateful thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and especially Anna Abney for an ARC of this novel.

Thank you Anna Abney and Netgalley for the ARC against honest review.

The story set in mid 17th century is so well written. The author has no doubt done a detailed study which is impressive, The main lead of the story is an innocent woman, Althea who is the lady's companion at Calverton Hall, She wishes to go back to her ancestral home, the Mesham Hall. When the plague hits England, she returns to her father for help.

(unpopular opinion) I gravely empathized with Althea's character but didn't like her. Her thoughts and decisions were unsettling. Having said that, the story was too intriguing. so to reach the end of the book was a hunger.

Glad to know there is more to the story. Will be waiting for the next book in series <3

*Many thanks to Anna Abney, Duckworth Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Interesting HF set against the 17th centry England, the Plague and the Protestant-Catholic dynamics. While reading I felt that the author did a thorough research into that period and it made this book particularly interesting despite the fact that I could not connect with any of the characters.

Historical novel that spans the breadth of Restoration England society--through a few years in the life of one young woman, Alethea Hawthorne. From upper class and common people's attempts to stay healthy in plague-ridden London, to religious groups experimenting with egalitarian living, to landowners' dismantling of the commons and the uneasy relations between Parliamentarian and Royalist, Anglican, Catholic and Puritan in the aftermath of the Civil Wars.
This is a period of history that I know a bit about (though much more of the two decades previously) and I enjoyed being reminded and learning more through the author's attention to detail. And there was plenty of it: Abney is an expert on the history, and sometimes it felt like she was trying to cram too much in; although throughout I felt that the characters came across as a bit too modern in their expression, behaviour and motivations. It would be easier to overlook that if the characters had been more engaging: but generally I found it hard to root for the protagonist--although the gradual changes to her personality from the beginning to the end was subtle and well-rendered--and found all the others except for her friend Ellen (who I loved) to be rather one-dimensional.
The open ending sets the story up to continue into a sequel, and given all that happens in just one book I wonder if this first book could have been split into two or three novels as part of a larger saga--at least it seems that the author had thought of enough plot points for this (some of which are set up and then dispatched within a few pages) if not the desire to actually write them up as fully as they deserved.
Overall this is an engaging novel whose strengths are in its setting--and issues of gender and power therein--but left me wanting more from the writing and the characters. I wonder if a sequel, in which a lot less happens, more driven by the situation and state of mind we leave Alethea in at the end rather than getting her from one point to another, will be more compelling.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, via Netgalley.

Thank you so very much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

What a time to be reading this book! Religious division and a plague force the main character, Alethea, to face her self-worth. This book is filled with twists and turns with beautiful prose that kept me very entertained. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a female main character growing as a person and overcoming the darker side of human nature.

1660's a dangerous and difficult time for all.
Althea is sent to London to stay with relatives, the plague sweeps through the city, the resemblance to covid is clear, people use various concoctions as a cure and surprisingly the Theatres are all closed. Althea iis disliked by her Aunt and sent on an errand whilst the family move elsewhere to escape the plague. Althea's adventures now really begin, she tries to make her way back to her home at Measham Hall but has to be carefully not only of the plague and the suspicion of travellers from London but also of her Catholicism, which is banned in favour of Protestant religion. She is fortunate to meet up with Jack who helps her and together they set up camp with a religious group in Epping forest.
When Althea eventually arrives home dressed as her brother, she is greeted by more heartbreak news and carries secrets of her own.
A well written and engaging story of moral decisions, religious persecutions, with lots of insights into the roles of the sexes and the interpretation s of them.

An enjoyable read that transported me to the time of the plague … absorbing and well crafted this book follows the story of Alethea who is dispatched to live with a friend of her father in London.

But her position in that household isn’t secure and what follows is an engaging tale that allows Alethea to find her path in a challenging world.

I was struck by the parallels of the plague and peoples responses to it - with the fear and behaviours of those in 2020/21 who are battling the dreaded 🦠… interestingly the author based her book on some source materials, so entirely coincidental (and in advance of the current situation!)

If you like historical fiction, I think you’ll like this book. Lots to think about and would be a good choice for a book club!

4⭐️ possibly higher!!!

Great read, really enjoyed this book, set in 1665 with the plague and even some modern day things thrown in the mix, like trans or a woman identifying as a man, just very interesting too how women had no voice but being a man was much more preferable to any woman, as they would be heard, can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

This story is written in 17th century plague ridden Restoration London. This is a period of history that I have always found fascinating so I was keen to read this book. I found this a very well written and historically accurate book.

The story follows a young girl called Alethea. In the first part of the book Alethea is living in London as a companion to the Culvertons.
Alethea is secretly cast out and forced to flee London and try to make it back to Measham Hall (her family home) during the height of the plague. She is rescued and befriended by Jack (my favourite character!) along the way and together they join a religious community of dissenters before she eventually makes it home.

Religion is central and Alethea has to outwardly change her beliefs several times depending on the people she is with. She starts off as very naive and easily influenced but her character develops so that she is an independent and strong woman who sticks to her resolve by the end. This does make her character more dislikeable as the story continues as she neglects friends to achieve her goals.

I did find it slightly unbelievable that she could have convincly dressed as a man for a sustainable time but the book did highlight the terrible class and gender divides at this time and you do get a real feel for this when reading.

Lots of the plague references had strong parallels with life in lockdown under covid which was interesting although there was a lot more superstition back then! The fear of the contagion is strongly felt throughout the story with groups of people being forced to isolate making this a bit too realistic in our current climate!

Overall an enjoyable read which I would recommend to historical fiction fans. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

This fascinating piece of historical fiction is set during the Restoration period, a time I knew little about before reading ( if you don’t include Horrible Histories’ Charles II rap).

Abney is clearly very knowledgable about this period and characters, places and ideas are vividly brought to life through her elegant prose.

England in 1665 was a place of political and religious upheaval, not to mention plague.

This era is explored through the life of our young protagonist, Alethea Hawthorne. The daughter of Royalist and Catholic parents. The story opens with her staying with upper class friends in a London hit hard by the ‘distemper’.

The insight into how people tried to stop contagion and how they lived and died with this deadly disease clearly echos Covid and gives the novel a very timely significance.

When Alethea finds herself alone and separated from her family by similar lockdown restrictions to those we’ve come to know only too well, she must make new friends and live a life very different to the privileged one she’d previously enjoyed, in order to survive.

We follow her journey as she tries to return to her family home at Measham Hall. Along the way her political and religious beliefs are thrown into question, as are her ideas about womanhood. Will she be the same person when she makes it home?

Overall this is an intriguing read, exploring ideas about beliefs, intolerance and gender conventions. Although it is historical, it certainly resonates with modern times and it is a hugely relevant read for the present day.

Set in a fascinating period - the time of the plague - when society was turned upside down. A resourceful heroine who goes from being a subservient "guest" to being mistress of her own destiny, a vivid cast of characters and quite a few little twists and turns along the way. Anna Abney really captures a society in turmoil and allows her heroine, Alethea to take all the opportunities that come her way. I enjoyed it very much, hope there will be more adventures from this author. Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read it.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

The Master of Measham Hall by Anna Abney is a newly-released historical novel set in England during the Restoration. (The novel starts in 1665.)

The heroine is a young Catholic gentlewoman, Alethea, sent to London by her stepmother to serve as a a companion to another family. Mainly, the stepmother wanted to be rid of her so her own children would be heirs. Alethea’s beloved older brother, William, had been exiled to France after he killed a man in a duel. Her father is a distant figure. Alethea is quite alone.

In these difficult times (religious persecution and plague), Alethea has to downplay or hide her Catholicism, a fact that doesn’t bother her except when she thinks of her devout, deceased mother.

The woman Alethea is staying with in London (Lady Culverton) takes against her when the man of the house (Lord Culverton) seems to be taking too much interest in her. Alethea is sent off on a fool’s errand while the rest of the household escapes to the countryside to get away from the plague. Clearly, the woman intended Alethea would die. She does not.

Instead, she decides to walk back home to her family estate, Measham Hall, convinced her father, at least, will welcome her.

It’s not a very safe plan and she is almost instantly attacked, but she is rescued by a lowborn, independent-minded man named Jack, who is also walking away from London. They end up in the forest, taken in by a small group of religious dissenters. Alethea adapts quickly, dropping her religion in exchange for theirs, primarily because of their charismatic leader, Samuel.

When this life is disrupted, she begins her trek home anew, this time accompanied by one of the young women from the group. Along the way, Alethea learns her entire nuclear family died from the plague except William, who is still missing. She decides that rather than present herself at the estate, she will impersonate her missing brother, in order to avoid being shunted aside by more distant relatives eager to claim the property.

The novel presents the debates over religion in the Restoration period in an interesting way, allowing Alethea to adopt different beliefs as she goes along, internally and sometimes externally debating the issues. However, in religion, as in pretty much all aspects of her life, Alethea is fickle, adopting whatever beliefs and actions are most convenient at the time, allowing her to get what she wants. She doesn’t have strong convictions and her main moral guide seems to be Machiavelli, whose teachings she reads about in a book gifted to her by Lord Culverton.

Alethea is a sympathetic character at first. She is kind and means well but is almost painfully naive in the ways of the world and suffers for it. However, over time, she learns how the world works and is happy to shed principles in order to arrange things to her liking. She becomes less and less likeable as the story progresses. It’s interesting to watch her transformation and the novel is satisfying as a character study, even though the plot is a bit slow and, in parts, a bit far-fetched.